By ANGELO ARMBRISTER, Freeport News Reporter

FREEPORT — Members of the Grand Bahama Taxi Union (GBTU) yesterday blocked the road at the entrance of the Lucayan Harbour with their vehicles in an attempt to prevent some private charter buses from leaving with visitors from the Norwegian Cruise Line.

Their actions received mixed reviews from cab drivers across the island, with some calling it ridiculous, while others said it was purely the result of frustration.

When the Freeport News arrived on the scene, a fleet of Taxi Union buses were lined off at the road. When questioned, GBTU President Kenneth Woodside refused to comment, saying that he would release a press statement later in the day outlining the reason for his union's actions. However, that statement never came.

The Freeport News was at the Harbour and spoke with several cab drivers, who said they are fed up and blasted the union's tactics.

One such driver was Tony Fox, who says he has been a taxi driver for some 16 years, and was highly appalled at the union's actions.

"Gone are the days when we act like ignorant people to get our points across. We can sit around the table and act like intelligent people and discuss the issues and deal with it like professional people," argued Fox.

As he described the scene he met when he showed up for work Tuesday morning, Fox said he hoped none of the visitors saw what was happening out there.

"I thought it was a military state when I first arrived. There were police officers, road traffic officials, the police bus and a few minutes later I saw cars riding on the grass. So I looked down the road and I saw the union bus blocking the road to the Harbour. It was pathetic, to be honest," he said.

Fox commended the Harbour Company for what he described as its use of "good judgment" by allowing the private charter buses to exit through the eastern gate.

When asked if the union was justified in the stance it took, Fox said that no one entity is in charge of ground transportation.

"People have choices and if they want to choose whoever they choose, that is their right," he said.

"... We need to educate ourselves and conduct ourselves like professionals. We say we're professionals but we still act like a bunch of illiterate fools and it all goes back to the Road Traffic Department. They need to stop playing politics and do their jobs. No one should have the right to block the road, I don't care who it is."

When questioned about the bargaining agreement, which has long been a bone of contention between the GBTU and private charter transportation, Fox dismissed it, saying that there is no such thing when it comes to ground transportation in The Bahamas.

"The Road Traffic Act spells out the responsibility of every single franchise in this country. There are laws and if they would stop playing politics and go by the law, it would eliminate all this foolishness what does carry on in this country with ground transportation," he said.

"They need to get real and deal with the issue. Let us enforce the law, that's all it takes. I came out here to make a living not for this foolishness."

Noting that there are nearly 600 taxi drivers on this island, Fox said that only 200 of that number are a part of the union and that small number of persons is creating a big problem for the other taxi drivers.

"When you are dealing with a bunch of people who refuse to educate themselves and move this industry forward, what do you think we'll get? The same rubbish we have been getting day in and day out," he said.

"A lot of times people think that the man with the gun is dangerous, but an illiterate person is the most dangerous person in the world because he cannot reason and he can't see right and that is what we are dealing with."

Pointing out that a demonstration such as that displayed yesterday is not a good first impression for visitors, Fox said that could be damaging to the already down economy.

"We are in dire need of tourists in this country," he said. "We are dealing with a fragile economy as it is and a lot of them believe this is all about us as taxi drivers, but its not.

"There are people in Port Lucaya waiting on these people to make a dollar to feed their children. When the union, which only has about 200 members, if that many, is allowed to dictate to the law, I have a problem with that."

Another taxi driver, Dorothea Clarke, said that the union's action could be the result of frustration brought on by the depressed economic climate.

She added that the government should step in and see that a suitable resolution is found.

"This situation has been going on for the past 30 years, but it has gotten worse... It is really out of hand," she said.

"I feel like the government needs to come together with the public service drivers and come to some agreement to divide the work between the buses and the taxi drivers. What we are looking for is a riot to break out any minute now because the people are frustrated."